Gail Porter wows with wig transformation 20 years after alopecia diagnosis

Metro

5 hours ago

Gail Porter has been showered with compliments from fans after stepping out wearing a wig.
The Scottish TV personality began losing her hair to alopecia – a condition that causes hair loss or baldness in some or all areas of the body – in 2005.
Several years later, her lashes and brows began growing back, and she sported a short, cropped look.
However, in 2010, the former model revealed that she had started losing her hair once more, and the following year, she unveiled a shaved head again.
Gail, 54, has always refused to wear a wig or hairpieces to conceal her baldness, having been keen on raising awareness of alopecia.
However, in recent years, she's started to experiment more, and last year, she unveiled a mid-length blonde wig to her followers.
Then, last night, she rocked a dramatic new look, heading to the British LGBT Awards with long locks.
The ceremony has been held annually since 2014 and is a huge moment in the LGBTQ+ community's calendar, with the likes of Jade, Billy Porter, and Ian 'H' Watkins receiving trophies this time.
Ahead of walking the red carpet, Gail took to Instagram to debut her blonde tresses, which she wore in waves as they cascaded down past her waist.
She tagged Amber Jean Rowan in the caption, thanking the wig maker – who has also made wigs for Strictly's Amy Dowden after her cancer treatment.
Taking to the comments, her 81,000 followers were keen to heap praise on her, with some having to do a double-take to make sure it was really her.
'Stunning 😍😍 Gawjeeeeus 😍😍', commented @mcchalkiewhite.
'Wow Gail. Beautiful with it and Beautiful without it', wrote @christine_anne_garstin.
'Gail you look amazing 😍😍😍', complimented @tinabear1969.
'Wow had to look twice 👏 looks really good 👍', wrote @neilcornish13.
Gail removed her wig for the event itself, posing proudly on the carpet alongside some of the UK's biggest LGBTQ+ talent and allies.
The former children's television presenter got her first wig in 20 years in January 2024, which she debuted on social media.
She wrote at the time: 'First wig ever!! Well, one that's coming home with me and the cat! Made with so much love and care ❤️Thank you so so much to everyone at @amberjeanshop Adore my new hair! X'
Speaking previously about losing her hair, the ex-Celebrity Big Brother housemate explained to Metro that she was forced to sleep on benches when work dried up as a result of her refusing to wear a wig.
Gail found that TV shows were only interested in booking her if she would talk about 'being bald', which also came while going through her divorce with her former husband and Toploader guitarist Dan Hipgrave.
As her situation worsened in the mid-00s, Gail was unable to make ends meet as she became 'more and more depressed'.
When appearing on the BBC Access All Podcast in August 2023, Gail also explained that work dried up very rapidly.
'It was so quick,' she said. 'I had long blonde hair, and then four weeks later I was completely bald.
'People didn't want to go near me for television or anything because I looked different.' More Trending
Last year, she was also praised for taking on her first photoshoot in a wig, with Sue Schilling, the chief executive of Alopecia UK, saying it is key to give people options as there is neither a 'right' nor a 'wrong' way to have alopecia.
Gail added to The Sun at the time: 'I don't think I'm a role model, but if me being bald or me wearing a wig gives someone the confidence to go and try it for themselves, I'm glad.
'I like the fact that women and men talk to me about hair loss.'
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